Pumping system



April 1934- c. l. WHIPPLE PUMPING SYSTEM Original Filed April 20. 1932 Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PUMPING SYSTEM Charles I. Whipple, Denver, 0010.

Application April 20,

1932, Serial No. 606,325

Renewed July 25, 1933 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pumping systems and apparatus for raising water or other liquids from deep wells.

In many places, it is often necessary to employ some pumping device for raising liquids, either water or crude oil, from wells and for this purpose it has been customary to employ reciprocating pumps having pistons and cylinders or some air lift device.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple and substantial device that can be employed in connection with wells of any depth and which will produce a substantially continuous flow of liquid and employ a very few moving parts, which are so constructed that little, if any, wear takes place.

It is well known that a stream of liquid in motion has a momentum proportional to its velocity and that if a long stream of liquid is set in motion and given a high velocity, it cannot be stopped suddenly due to the immense amount of kinetic energy contained in the moving column of liquid. Since the momentum Varies with the velocity, it is evident that if two pipes are connected in series, one of which has a much smaller cross section than the other, the velocity of the water in the large pipe will be much less than that in the small pipe in the inverse proportion of the areas of the two pipes.

It is the object of this invention to produce a pumping device or system that shallbe based on the relationship of the momentum to the cross sectional area of the pipes in the manner suggested above.

This invention, briefly described, consists in introducing into the well a pipe of comparatively large diameter and which, for this purpose, will be considered to be a pipe having an internal diameter of about four inches. A check or foot valve is secured to the lower end of the pipe and the length of the pipe is such that the foot valve extends down below the level of the liquid to be raised. The upper endof this pipe is closed by means of a cap and is connected with the interior of a pressure tank which is adapted to contain liquid under. considerable pressure. Near the bottom of the pipe and a short distance above the foot valve is a transverse partition having a central opening. A smaller pipe extends into the large pipe through an opening in the cap at the top and has its lower end resting on the upper surface of the partition. The inside diameter of the smaller pipe will be considered for the purpose of this explanation to be one inch. A storage tank is provided and the upper end of the smaller pipe is connected with the storage tank.

A pump is also connected with the storage tank and driven by an electric motor or other source of power, so as to transfer liquid from the storage tank to the pressure tank. When the pump operates, the smaller pipe is intermittently raised from its seat on the partition and then quickly lowered. When the pressure tank contains liquid under pressure, the inside of the larger pipe will also contain liquid under the same pressure and therefore whenever the small pipe is raised from its seat, liquid will start flowing upwardly through the smaller pipe and into the storage tank. When the smaller pipe is released and drops down on the partition, liquid cannot flow into it from the larger pipe, but the velocity of the liquid in the smaller pipe is such that the momentum will cause the liquid to continue its travel after the lower end has settled against the partition and liquid from the well will flow inwardly past the foot valve and into the smaller pipe. By intermittently raising and lowering the small pipe, a continuous stream of liquid will flow upwardly through it into the storage tank.

Having thus briefly described the invention,

the same will now be described in detail and for r this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the apparatus employed has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a section through a well and through parts of the apparatus connected therewith;

Fig. 2 is a section through the storage tank taken on line 22, Fig. l, and shows the conveyor employed for removing sediment from the tank;

and i Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3-, Fig. 1, an shows the construction of a pressure operated valve.

In the drawing reference numeral 1 indicates the surface of the ground, and 2 the casing of a well. This well may be an oil well or a water well, as the case may be. Supported on the upper end of the casing is a ring 3 that serves as a support for the large pipe 4. The upper end of pipe 4 is provided with a specially constructed T 5 whose lower end rests on the upper surface of the ring 3. Pipe 4 extends down into the well to such a distance that the lower end thereof is submerged in the liquid. Secured to the lower end of the pipe is a cap 6 having a central opening '7 and supported on the inclined walls 8 of this cap is a ball 9 that normally rests in the opening and serves as a check valve on a foot valve. Located within the pipe 4 is a short cup-like member having a cylindrical wall 10 and a transverse partition 11. The lower end of wall 10 rests on the upper surface of the inclined wall 8 of cap 6, and this partition is provided with a central opening 12. Extending upwardly from the upper side of the partition is a tubular guide 13. The upper end of this guide has an inwardly extending flange 14 and the cylindrical sides are provided with a number of openings 15. The upper end of the T 5 is closed by means of a cap 16 that is provided with a central tubular portion 17 through which the smaller pipe 18 extends. The inner surface of the tubular portion 1'7 is threaded and a packing nut 19 is connected with this threaded portion and serves to compress the packing material located in the space 20. Pipe 18 extends downwardly and has its lower end normally resting on the upper surface of the partition 11. The lower end is provided with a number of lugs 21 that engage the inner surface of flange 14 when the pipe 18 is withdrawn, so that whenever it is withdrawn it will also withdraw the partition 11 and parts con nected with it. Secured to the upper end of pipe 18 is a collar 22 that may be part of the elbow .5 23. A spring 24 is located between the collar 22 and the top of the nut 19. This spring is so proportioned that it will support the greater amount of the weight of the pipe 18 when the latter is submerged in a liquid and therefore facilitates the raising of the pipe.

Connected with the side opening 25 or T 5 is a pressure tank 26. A storage tank 27 is located on the other side of the well from that at which the pressure tank is located and a pipe 28 extends from the elbow 23 to a point above the storage tank so that any liquid flowing outwarly through pipe 28 will be deposited in the storage tank. A pump 29 of the type described and claimed in my copending application No. 606,326 of even date herewith has its intake port 30 connected with the storage tank and has its outlet port 31 connected to the interior of the pressure tank by means of a pipe 32. This pipe is provided with a check valve 33 that permits liquid to flow into the storage tank, but prevents it from flowing outwardly therefrom. Pipe 32 is connected with the pump outletby means of a T 34 and the other opening in this T is connected with the interior of the storage tankthrough a pressure operated valve 35.

Theconstruction of this valve is shown in Fig. 3,

- hold it in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position the valve is closed. The interior of the cylinder above the piston is connected to the top of the pressure tank by means of a pipe 40. The tension of the spring is so adjusted that when the pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined value, the gate 36 will move downwardly to a position in which the opening in the gate registers with the openings in the valve casing and permits liquid to flow from the pipe into the storage tank. The object of this construction will appear as the description proceeds. The pump is operated by means of a motor or an internal combustion engine, which has not been illustrated because it is merely conventional. One end of the pump shaft has a small pinion 41 that is in mesh with a large gear wheel 42 carried by a shaft 43 journaled in bearings 44. Secured to the shaft 43 is a cam 45. A bell crank lever having a vertical arm 46 and a horizontal arm 47 is mounted on a pivot 48 carried by the upper ends of brackets 49. The free end of lever 47 is connected to the collar 22 by means of a link 50 and the lower end of arm 46 rests on the outside of the cam 45. In the device illustrated cam 45 rotates in a counterclockwise direction when the pump is operating and when the parts are in the position shown the pipe 18 is raised from the partition the maximum amount. As soon as the cam rotates, a few degrees more the arm 46 will be released, thereby permitting the pipe to drop onto the upper surface of the partition. In the drawing the distance that the pipe 18 is raised has been exaggerated and even in a full-sized device, the extent of the movement does not need to exceed half an inch.

The storage tank 27 is provided with an endless conveyor belt 51 that encloses the ends and bottom and which is supported on rollers 52 and is held against the side and bottom by rollers 53. Other rollers 54 are located on the outside of the tank near the bottom and this conveyor belt is provided with buckets 55. Any suitable means can be employed for moving the belt so that it may move continuously at a slow rate or intermittently, as may be desired. Any sediment deposited from the liquid will be carried out of the tank by the action of the buckets. A pipe 56 extends from the storage tank to a reservoir or a tank adapted to receive the liquid raised from the well.

With the parts assembled and arranged in the manner shown and described, let us now imagine that the pressure tank contains liquid under a pressure suitable for the purpose and which, for the purpose of this explanation will be considered to be one hundred pounds, per square inch. The liquid fills the space between the inside of pipe 4 and the outside of pipe 18 and when the latter rests on the partition 11, liquid cannot flow from pipe 4 into pipe 18. When the pump is operating the cam 45 will intermittently raise and lower pipe 18 and as soon as this is raised from the upper surface of the partition, liquid will flow from the pipe 4 into the pipe 18 and upwardly through the same and be discharged into the storage tank. Owing to the high pressure, the flow of liquid will soon attain a high velocity and when pipe 18 is released and drops onto the upper surface of partition 11, the momentum of the liquid column will continue to move the liquid and since no more liquid can come from the inside of pipe 4, the displacement will be replaced by liquid drawn in through the foot valve. Before the velocity has slowed down sufiiciently to cause the liquid column to come to a standstill, pipe 18 is again raised and the velocity is again increased by the high pressure liquid from the storage tank. Owing to the fact that the cross sectional areas of the large pipe is about sixteen times as great as that of the smaller pipe, the velocity in the small pipe will be about fifteen times as great as the velocity of the liquid in the large pipe. Since water and other liquids nearly always contain air, either mechanically mixed with it or in solution this serves as a resilient buffer that prevents shock when the small pipe is brought into contact with the partition. The pump 29 functions to transfer from the storage tank the liquid necessary to cause the apparatus to operate and any liquid raised from the well in addition, flows out through the pipe to the storage tank. The pump 29 should always have a slightly larger capacity than actually needed and therefore unless some means were provided to prevent it, the pressure in tank 26 would soon this that the pressure valve 35 has been provided. Valve 35 is so adjusted that when the pressure in tank 36 reaches one hundred pounds per square inch, example given here, the valve will open and permit the liquid to flow back into the storage tank.

From the above description it will be seen that the apparatus described has only a few moving parts and functions to produce a continuous stream of liquid from a well to the surface of the ground. Owing to the fact that there are no pistons reciprocating in cylinders, as in an ordinary pump, there is no appreciable wear, and

even liquid mixed with sand and grit can be handled without causing undue wear of the parts. Since the liquid in pipe 4 surrounds pipe 18 to the very top, the two liquid columns are counterbalanced and the device can therefore be used in very deep wells and the only limit to the depth at which it will operate is the strength of the materials employed.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A pumping device for raising liquid from deep wells comprising, in combination, a pipe extending from the top to a point below the level of the liquid to be raised, the-lower end of the pipe being provided with a foot valve that permits liquid to flow into the pipe but prevents it from flowing out, a transverse partition across the pipe a short distance above the foot valve, the partition having an opening, the upper end of the pipe being closed, a pressure tank connected with the interior of the pipe, a smaller pipe extending into and through the interior of the first pipe from a point above the upper end thereof to the partition, a guide for the lower end of the smaller pipe for holding it concentric with the opening in the partition, means for pumping liquid into the pressure tank and means for periodically lifting the smaller pipe from its seat on the partition whereby liquid from the pressure tank will be permitted to flow downwardly through the first pipe and to pass into the lower end of the smaller pipe to set up in the latter a high velocity stream whose momentum will cause it to continue its upward movement after the smaller pipe has again seated on the partition.

2. A pumping device for raising liquid from deep wells comprising, in combination, a pipe ex- 7 tending from a point above the ground to a point below the level of the liquid to be raised, the upper end of the pipe being closed and the lower end having a foot valve that permits liquid to enter, but prevents it from flowing out, a transverse partition in the pipe at a point above the foot valve, the partition having an opening, a pressure tank connected with the upper end of the pipe, a smaller pipe extending through an opening in the upper end of the first pipe and through the interior of the same to the partition, a guide for the lower end of the smaller pipe for holding it concentric with the opening in the partition, a storage tank, a connection from the upper end of the smaller pipe to the storage tank, a pump for transferring liquid from the storage tank to the pressure tank and means for intermittently raising the smaller pipe from its seat on the partition and for releasing it whereby liquid will flow into the lower end of the smaller pipe when it is raised and produce a stream of high velocity therein.

3. A pumping device for raising liquid from deep wells comprising, in combination, a pipe extending from a point above the ground to a point below the level of the liquid to be raised,

the upper end or the pipe being closed and the lower end having a foot valve that permits liquid to enter but prevents it from flowing out, a transverse partition in the pipe at a point above the foot valve, the partition having an opening, a pressure tank connected withthe upper end of the pipe, a smaller pipe extending through an opening in the upper end of the first pipe and through the interior of the same to the partition, a guide for the lower end of the smaller pipe for holding it concentric with the opening in the partition, a storage tank, a connection from the upper end of the smaller pipe to the storage tank, a pump for transferring liquid from the storage tank to the pressure tank, a counterbalance attached to the smaller pipe for neutralizing the greater portion of its weight and means for intermittentiy raising the smaller pipe from its seat onthe partition whereby liquid from the first pipe will flow into the lower end of the smaller pipe and produce ahigh velocity flow of liquid upwardly in the smaller pipe which will persist after the smaller pipe has again seated whereby liquid will be drawn in through the foot valve.

4. A pumping device for raising liquid from deep wells comprising, in combination, a pipe extending from a point above the ground to a point below the level of the liquid to be raised, the upper end of the pipe being closed and the lower end having a foot valve that permits liquid to enter, but prevents it from flowing out, a transverse partition in the pipe at a point above the foot valve, the partition having an opening, a pressure tank connected with the upper end of the pipe, a smaller pipe extending through an opening in the upper end of the first pipe and through the interior of the same to the partition, a guide for the lower end of the smaller pipe for holding it concentric with the opening in the partition, a storage tank, a connection from the upper end of the smaller pipe to the storage tank, a pump for transferring liquid from the storage tank to the pressure tank, pressure operated means for diverting the discharge of the pump from the pressure tank to the storage tank when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value, and means for intermittently raising the smaller pipe from its seat on the partition and for releasing it whereby liquid will flow into the lower end of the smaller pipe when it is raised and produce a stream of high velocity therein.

5. A pumping device for raising liquid from deep wells comprising, in combination, a pipe extending from a point above the ground to a point below the level of the liquid to be raised, the upper end of the pipe being closed and the lower end having a foot valve that permits liquid to enter, but prevents it from flowing out, a transverse partition in the pipe at a point above the foot valve, the partition having an opening, a pressure tank connected with the upper end of the pipe, a smaller pipe extending through an opening in the upper end of the first pipe and through the interior of the same to the partition, a guide for the lower end of the smaller pipe for holding it concentric with the opening in the partition, a storage tank, a connection from the upper end of the smaller pipe to the storage tank, a pump for transferring liquid from the storage tank to the pressure tank, pressure operated means for diverting the discharge of the pump from the pressure tank to the storage tank when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value, a counterbalance attached to the smaller pipe for neutralizing the greater portion of its weight and means for intermittentlyraising the smaller pipe from its seat on the partition whereby liquid from the first pipe will flow into the lower end of the smaller pipe and produce a high velocity of flow of liquid upwardly in the smaller pipe which will persist after the smaller pipe has again seated whereby liquid will be drawn in through the foot valve.

6. A pumping device for raising liquid from deep wells comprising, in combination, a pipe extending from a point above the ground to a point below the level of the liquid to be raised, the upper end of the pipe being closed and the lower end having a foot valve that permits liquid to enter, but prevents it from flowing out, a transverse partition in the pipe at a point above the foot valve, the partition having an opening, a pressure tank connected with the upper end of the pipe, a smaller pipe extending through an opening in the upper end of the first pipe and through the interior of the same to the partition, a guide for the lower end of the smaller pipe for holding it concentric with the opening in the partition, a storage tank, a connection from the upper end of the smaller pipe to the storage tank, a pump for transferring liquid from the storage tank to the pressure tank, means for intermittently raising the smaller pipe from its seat on the partition and for releasing it whereby liquid will flow into the lower end of the smaller pipe when it is raised and produce a stream of high velocity therein, and means for removing sediment from the bottom of the storage tanks 7. A pumping device for raising liquid from deep Wells comprising, in combination, a pipe extending from the top to a point below the level of the liquid to be raised, the lower end of the pipe being provided with a foot valve that permits liquid to flow into the pipe but prevents it from flowing out, a transverse partition across the pipe a short distance above the foot valve, the partition having an opening, the upper end of the pipe being closed, a pressure tank connected with the interior of the pipe, a small pipe extending into and through the interior of the first pipe from a point above the upper end thereof to the partition, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of liquid from the annular space between the two pipes and into the lower end of the smaller pipe, means for pumping liquid into the pressure tank, and means for periodically opening the valve mechanism whereby liquid from the pressure tank will be permitted to flow downwardly through the first pipe and to pass into the lower end of the smaller pipe to set up in the latter a high velocity stream whose momentum will cause it to continue its upward movement after the valve mechanism has been closed.

CHARLES I. WHIPPLE. 

